ROME, Georgia – The Lee softball split a doubleheader with the Shorter Hawks on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Flames took game one, 6-3 behind a complete game by Madison Barnett before falling 9-8 in the nightcap after a late Shorter rally.
Lee moves to 18-15 and are now 11-9 in the GSC and have won five straight conference series. Shorter is now 5-31 and 2-18 in league play.
"Sometimes you learn more from a loss than a win. It was good to win a series on the road. I think we pressed and played tight which isn't our best. We have an off weekend from GSC play and then we will be ready to go for the next three series," said Lee head coach Emily Russell. "We needed a refocus and I think this weekend served as that. Credit to Shorter. They played together and never gave up in any of the 3 games. That's a though mentality to maintain in this conference.
Credit to Kelsey for a job well done."
The Lady Flames will be back in action on Wednesday as the travel to Jefferson, Tenn. to take on Carson-Newman University. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
GAME 1 – LEE 6 SHORTER 3
Barnett went the distance and scattered 11 hits while giving up three runs. She struck out six and walked two to move to 6-8 on the year as the Lady Flames scored topped the Hawks, 6-3 in game one.
Bre Patton delivered the go-ahead double to break a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning. She added an insurance run in the seventh reaching on a fielder's choice. Patton was one of five Lady Flame batters to tally two hits in the game. Javaria Smith doubled and singled while Sidney Lee, Lexi Scalzo, and Laney Harris each singled twice.
Loyd was tagged with the loss as she went five innings giving up 10 hits and four runs. Graham led the offensive attack for the Hawks with a solo homer in the second and a double in the sixth.
GAME 2 – LEE 8 SHORTER 9
The Shorter Hawks use a six-run fifth inning to avoid the series sweep with an 9-8 victory over the Lady Flames in game two on Saturday.
Taylor De Adder led the offensive attack for the Lady Flames with a pair of home runs and six RBI. De Adder blasted a three-run home run in the third and followed that up with another three-run bomb in the fourth. The senior now has eight home runs on the season.
George delivered the big hit for the Hawks in the fifth inning rally with a bases-loaded three-run double. Combs doubled and singled and finished with three hits and two RBI.
Bre Patton finished with a double and three singles and had six hits on the day. Javaria Smith had two more hits and the freshman now leads the team with a sizzling .387 average.
Pettigrew earned the win (2-2) in the circle for the Hawks as she worked one inning of relief, allowing two hits and one run. Pinkston closed the door with two shutout innings in relief to earn the save.
